U.S. National Guard Ranks & Asbestos Exposure:

Full Rank-by-Rank Guide

The U.S. National Guard—Army National Guard and Air National Guard—experienced asbestos exposure throughout armories, aircraft hangars, motor pools, training centers, base housing, and older facilities built before 1980. Members often trained in aging buildings, worked on military vehicles and aircraft, and deployed to locations containing asbestos.

Below is a complete breakdown of duties and asbestos exposure risks for every rank.

Where National Guard Members Encountered Asbestos

Common Asbestos-Containing Locations

• Armories and readiness centers

• Motor pools and vehicle maintenance bays

• Aircraft hangars and flightline buildings

• Boiler rooms, steam pipes, mechanical rooms

• Base housing and administrative buildings

• Drywall, ceiling tiles, and floor tiles

• Electrical insulation and wiring

• Old training facilities built pre-1980

• Emergency response and firefighting units

Enlisted Ranks (E-1 to E-9)

E-1 — Private / Airman Basic (AB)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Basic tasks, facility cleaning, support work

Asbestos Exposure

• Dust from older armories

• Broken ceiling and floor tiles

• Cleaning mechanical rooms

E-2 — Private (PV2) / Airman (Amn)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Maintenance helper, training support

Asbestos Exposure

• Vehicle brake dust

• Building insulation

• Damaged drywall and tile materials

E-3 — Private First Class (PFC) / Airman First Class (A1C)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Light vehicle repair, facility support, training operations

Asbestos Exposure

• Motor pool asbestos debris

• Damaged HVAC insulation

• Aircraft or vehicle component repairs

E-4 — Specialist (SPC) / Senior Airman (SrA)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Mechanic, electrician, carpenter, HVAC tech, vehicle operator

Asbestos Exposure

• Brake and clutch replacement

• Electrical panel ACM

• Steam line insulation

E-4 — Corporal (CPL)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Small team leader in engineering or maintenance

Asbestos Exposure

• Armory renovation dust

• Motor pool ACM

E-5 — Sergeant (SGT) / Staff Sergeant (SSgt)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Squad leader, maintenance supervisor

Asbestos Exposure

• Building repairs

• Demolition of older structures

• Mechanical shop environments

E-6 — Staff Sergeant (SSG) / Technical Sergeant (TSgt)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Section leader in engineering or logistics

Asbestos Exposure

• Steam pipes and boiler rooms

• Aging armory infrastructure

• Aircraft engine maintenance (Air Guard)

E-7 — Sergeant First Class (SFC) / Master Sergeant (MSgt)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Senior maintenance leader

Asbestos Exposure

• Old HVAC systems

• Asbestos-wrapped wiring

• Administrative spaces with ACM

E-8 — Master Sergeant (MSG) / First Sergeant (1SG) / Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Senior enlisted advisor and facility operations supervisor

Asbestos Exposure

• Pre-1980 training buildings

• Base offices and housing

E-9 — Sergeant Major (SGM) / Command Sergeant Major (CSM) / Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Highest enlisted leadership

Asbestos Exposure

• Long-term exposure across aging facilities

• Command centers with ACM floors and ceilings

High-Risk National Guard Occupations

Army National Guard

• 91-Series Mechanics

• 12-Series Engineers (carpenters, electricians, masons, plumbers)

• 15-Series Aircraft Mechanics

• 92F Fuelers

• 74D CBRN Specialists (hazmat response)

• Firefighters

Air National Guard

• Aircraft maintenance

• Avionics technicians

• HVAC and electrical systems

• Fire protection

• Facilities maintenance

Warrant Officer Ranks (WO1–CW5)

WO1 — Warrant Officer 1

Typical Duties

🛠️ Technical specialist in aviation, engineering, or logistics

Asbestos Exposure

• Aircraft insulation

• Engine component ACM

• Electrical panel insulation

CW2 — Chief Warrant Officer 2

Typical Duties

🛠️ Maintenance technician and system expert

Asbestos Exposure

• Boiler rooms

• Pump rooms

• Armory and hangar renovations

CW3 — Chief Warrant Officer 3

Typical Duties

🛠️ Technical operations leader

Asbestos Exposure

• ACM in old Guard buildings

• High-heat vehicle components

CW4 — Chief Warrant Officer 4

Typical Duties

🛠️ Senior technical advisor

Asbestos Exposure

• Legacy wiring and electrical ACM

• Aircraft engine insulation

CW5 — Chief Warrant Officer 5

Typical Duties

🛠️ Senior technical authority for Guard units

Asbestos Exposure

• Structural ACM across multiple installations

• Mechanical systems with asbestos

Officer Ranks (O-1 to O-10)

O-1 — Second Lieutenant (2LT) / Second Lieutenant (ANG)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Platoon or flightline leadership

Asbestos Exposure

• Older armories

• Training facilities with ACM

O-2 — First Lieutenant (1LT)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Executive officer, operations support

Asbestos Exposure

• Motor pool inspections

• Building oversight

O-3 — Captain (CPT)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Company commander

Asbestos Exposure

• Administrative spaces

• Facility management involving ACM

O-4 — Major (MAJ)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Battalion or squadron operations leader

Asbestos Exposure

• Pre-1980 command buildings

• Mechanical rooms

O-5 — Lieutenant Colonel (LTC)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Battalion or squadron commander

Asbestos Exposure

• Long-term structural ACM exposure

O-6 — Colonel (COL)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Brigade or wing leadership

Asbestos Exposure

• Older installation headquarters

O-7 — Brigadier General (BG)

O-8 — Major General (MG)

O-9 — Lieutenant General (LTG)

O-10 — General (GEN)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Senior National Guard leadership

Asbestos Exposure

• Historic government buildings

• Base headquarters built before asbestos restrictions

Compensation Options for National Guard Veterans

VA Disability Benefits

Most mesothelioma cases qualify for 100% disability.

Asbestos Trust Funds

More than $32 billion is available.

Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Claims are filed against product manufacturers, not the National Guard.

Free Case Review for U.S. National Guard Veterans

📞 Call 800.291.0963 for a free, confidential case review.